Services

Cyclist dies fortnight after collapse

cyclist Gary Woodward died yesterday after suffering a heart attack while out on his bike last month.

Gary, a life-long member of the Chippenham Wheelers cycling group, was a familiar face around Wiltshire and was often seen out cycling around the county’s roads.

He was found unconscious and not breathing at the side of Blacklands Road, in Flaxlands, near Royal Wootton Bassett, on June 20.

A paramedic in a rapid-response vehicle, a road ambulance and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance attended the scene, together with four police cars, and after paramedics succeeded in restarting his heart, Gary was rushed to the Bristol Royal Infirmary to receive treatment.

But the time he was not breathing left Gary severely brain damaged and last Saturday – his 68th birthday – doctors took the decision to switch off his life-support machine.

He was later transferred to the Great Western Hospital but sadly lost his fight for life this morning, with his family by his side.

His ex-wife Jackie said it has left her and their 47-year-old son, Duane shocked and devastated.

But she has thanked paramedics and police who came to Gary's aid.

“All the hospital staff have been so good to Gary, and to us as well, and really taken care of us," she said.

They want to trace the driver of the SEB van who called the emergency services. Jackie said: “There was an SEB van who spotted him sitting on the side of the road, who asked him how he was. He said he didin’t feel very well but would just sit down for a minute.

“When the driver came back from dropping off his mate he found Gary unconscious and not breathing. The police were so good as well. They looked after his bike for us and I know they are just doing their job, but we so appreciated their support.”

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